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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-16-2017 IOC Minutes Minutes Investment Oversight Committee Thursday, February 16, 2017 Regular Meeting of the Investment Oversight Committee CALL TO ORDER A Regular meeting of the Investment Oversight Committee was called to order on Thursday, February 16, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Bradford. ROLL CALL Present: Committee Members Steve Barasch, Heidi Harmon, Derek Johnson, Rico Pardo, and Chair Xenia Bradford Absent: Committee Member Katie Lichtig and Al Eschenbach, Independent Auditor and ex-officio member Others Present: Monique Spyke and Izac Chyou, PFM Asset Management LLC (City’s Investment Advisor); and Barbara Ehrbar, Recording Secretary PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None. 1. OATH OF OFFICE OF NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS (HARMON AND PARDO) Deputy City Clerk Godwin administered the Oath of Office to Committee members Harmon and Pardo prior to the Investment Oversight Committee meeting. 2. REVIEW OF INVESTMENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 10, 2016 Committee Member Barasch indicated that he had requested an item to be included on the agenda regarding the nature of the committee. Chair Bradford indicated that this request would be taken up during Item 4. Committee Member Harmon indicated that she would be abstaining from the vote as she did not attend the meeting of November 10, 2016, or listen to the audio tape. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER JOHNSON, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER PARDO, to approve the Investment Oversight Committee Meeting minutes of November 10, 2016 CARRIED 4-0-1, (LICHTIG, ABSENT; HARMON ABSTAINED) City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Minutes - Investment Oversight Committee Minutes of February 16, 2017 Page 2 3. PRESENTATION OF THE QUARTERLY INVESTMENT REPORT ON PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE Chair Bradford distributed the Quarterly Investment Report. City Investment Advisor Monique Spyke introduced Isaac Chyou, new member of the PFM management team. Advisors Spyke and Chyou reviewed the contents of the report and summarized the portfolio’s performance. Advisor Chyou indicated that there have been eleven consecutive quarters of GDP growth, as well as seven years of slow and steady growth. Advisor Spyke noted that the surprising election of President Trump in the 4th quarter caused some volatility in the market. There may be some potential impacts of this new administration as it relates to fixed income investment markets. Committee questions followed. Advisor Spyke explained the city’s green investment strategy to new committee members. In response to Committee inquiry regarding monitoring the social responsibility of the City’s corporate investments being in compliance with the policy, Advisor Spyke indicated that PFM regularly looks at corporations that, in their course of business, have a high percentage of revenue to qualify for this type of filter. Committee Member Barasch distributed an email from the Local Market Monitor. Public Comment Leslie Halls, San Luis Obispo, inquired about a recent action of another local agency which gave a $950,000 loan to its top employee to purchase a home; questioned if the City could do this sort of transaction. In response to public comment, Committee member Johnson indicated that this action mentioned was outside the City’s purview; stated that there are no City employees who have benefited from this type of practice, nor is the City contemplating it. ---End of Public Comment--- ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER JOHNSON, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BARASCH, to confirm that the Quarterly Investment Report for the period ending December 30, 2016 is in compliance with the City’s Investment Policy. CARRIED 5-0, (LICHTIG ABSENT) City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Minutes - Investment Oversight Committee Minutes of February 16, 2017 Page 3 4. DISCUSSION OF COMMITTEE’S PURPOSE, MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS Chair Bradford discussed the Committee’s purpose, members, and terms. Committee Member Barasch questioned the purpose of this committee; was it just a review and consent group or could it make recommendations to the Council to act on. He noted the City’s webpage indicated that it was an Advisory Committee, but felt there was not much the committee could contribute if it wasn’t. Committee Member Johnson, explained the purpose of the committee is primarily to provide oversight to elected officials, staff and citizens of investment decisions being made to provide transparency and consistency with federal, state and local law. As a “citizen” member of the committee, Committee Member Barasch indicated that due to huge pension obligations coming up, committee turnover, and inconsistencies with some statewide issues, the Council should review how the committee was originally set up and how that relates to its functioning today. Committee Member Johnson indicated it was the Treasurer’s responsibility to direct the investment decisions; however, the Council was free to look at the roles and responsibilities of Advisory Bodies at any time. Committee Member Barasch felt it was important to have the Council review the role of the committee in light of major expenditures that would be occurring in the next year. Public Comment: None. ---End of Public Comment--- 5. DISCUSSION OF INVESTMENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CALENDAR The next meeting is scheduled for May 18, 2017, at 1:30. At that meeting, the Committee will discuss meeting dates for the next fiscal year. 6. ITEMS TO BE ADDRESSED AT A FUTURE MEETING Following discussion, the Committee agreed to discuss at a future meeting the following:  Discussion of fossil fuel investments. City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Minutes - Investment Oversight Committee Minutes of February 16, 2017 Page 4 ADJOURNMENT Prior to adjournment, Committee member Johnson welcomed Mayor Harmon to the committee and thanked PFM and the public for their great support. The meeting was adjourned at 2:43 pm. APPROVED BY INVESTMENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: 05/31/2017